Egypt: The government reopened the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip after the release of seven hostages in the Sinai Peninsula. (AFP)

Libya: Reports surfaced suggesting that Petraeus assisted in drafting the Benghazi talking points under fire in Congress to make sure that both he and the CIA were portrayed positively. (WaPo)

Nigeria: The military stepped up an offensive against Boko Haram in the northeast which has been met with heavy resistance bolstered by sophisticated weapons from Libya. (Guardian)

Zimbabwe: President Mugabe signed a new constitution limiting the presidency’s powers into law, paving the way for elections to be held later this year. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Brazil: FM Patriota and Haitian PM Lamothe agreed to launch an initiative to combat trafficking in illegal immigrants into the country from Haiti. (Xinhua)

Jamaica: IMF officials dismissed speculation on the likelihood of a debt default, citing progress made in economic reform despite a debt to GDP ratio of 140 percent. (Xinhua)

United States: Congressional lawmakers are seeking to bar the executive and military from removing missile defense equipment from eastern Asia, many of whom are concerned about Chinese military power. (AP)

Venezuela: Parliament reconvened amid lively debate between government and opposition lawmakers three weeks after a brawl stopped proceedings. (AP)

ASIA

Afghanistan: Hard-line Islamist students at Kabul University are protesting against a presidential decree that protected a number of women’s rights, saying that they are un-Islamic. (AP)

Korea, North: The regime appointed a hawkish general believed to have ordered the 2010 shelling of a South Korean island to be the new military chief. (Reuters)

Korea, South: A Foreign Ministry official called for an expansion of “economic diplomacy” to stimulate the country’s export-driven economy. (Yonhap)

Pakistan: Imran Khan, leader of the upstart political success Tehreek-e Insaf, was released from the hospital after breaking his back in a fall while campaigning. (Reuters)

EUROPE

Region: Anti-poverty advocate Oxfam International released research hours before EU leaders will meet on tax reform claiming that USD 12 trillion is hidden in tax havens. (DPA)

Italy: The new government is set to announce its plan to address the issue of rampant youth unemployment hoping to stem faltering public support. (Reuters)

Russia: Magomed Abdusaidov, a leader of the Gubden terroristh group in the restive region of Dagestan was killed in a special operation. (Itar-Tass)

Sweden: Riots that erupted after police killed a 69-year-old man spread for the third day, setting fire to buildings and cars in largely immigrant suburbs of Stockholm amid charges of racism among police. (AP)

MIDDLE EAST

Iran: Diplomats warned that the country is moving ahead to update its nuclear program, purchasing around 100 centrifuges since mid-April. (AP)

Iran: President Ahmadinejad said that he would contest the presidential campaign ban placed on a close aide directly to the Supreme Leader. (Reuters)

Iraq: PM al-Maliki ordered a reshuffle of the security cabinet after a recent increase in casualties, replacing the commander of Baghdad Operations Command and several other posts. (Xinhua)

Israel: Increases in gas production from huge offshore deposits is allowing the economy to shift from costly importing to a growing model of self-sufficiency. (AFP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Social Media: A recent poll suggests that American adolescents are increasingly leaving Facebook for Twitter due to increased parental use of social media and “oversharing.” (AP)

Europe: International conference on European security problems will begin in Moscow; Assistant Secretary General Dirk Brengelmann will represent NATO (to 24MAY).

Israel, Palestinian Territories: Secretary Kerry will travel to Jerusalem and Ramallah for meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders aimed at reviving the long-stalled peace negotiations between the two sides (to 24MAY).

Moldova: Five-plus-two negotiations between Moldova and Trans-Dinestria will begin in Odessa (to 24MAY).

Nigeria: Election for the chairmanship of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) will be held.

Syria: Syria’s key National Coalition opposition group will meet to discuss a US-Russian proposal for an international conference on a political solution to the Syrian conflict.

Baha’i: Declaration of the Bab, the forerunner of Baha’u’llah, founder of the Baha’i faith.